To: Board of Supervisors
From: Ellen McDonnell, Public Defender
Report Title: Larsen Justice Fellowship Agreement with the Regents of the University of California
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Public Defender, or designee, to execute the Larsen Justice Fellowship Agreement with the Regents of the University of California, a non-profit educational institution, on behalf of the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law, Zoë Fisher (the “Fellow” and volunteer of the Public Defender) for the period August 18, 2025 and ending no later than August 17, 2026.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact for the County for this action, as this is a non-financial agreement.
BACKGROUND:
The Contra Costa County Public Defender’s Office (CCPD) seeks to enter into a Fellowship Agreement with the Regents of the University of California, on behalf of the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law to provide experiential learning opportunities for students and recent graduates interested in public service and indigent defense. Under the agreement, CCPD will host Zoë Fisher, as a legal volunteer from the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law who will assist with legal research, case preparation, and client support under the supervision of CCPD staff.
This collaboration benefits both CCPD and the educational institution. The program allows students to gain practical experience in the legal field while supporting the CCPD’s mission to provide high-quality representation to clients who cannot afford private counsel. Participation in the program also enhances the CCPD’s recruitment pipeline by fostering interest in public sector careers.
The Larsen Fellow began their placement with the Public Defender’s Juvenile Unit on August 18, 2025. The request for Board approval was delayed because The Regents of the University of California, on behalf of the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law did not provide sufficient review time for county groups to review and due to the contractual obligations including those listed below, required further negotiations between the County and the Larsen Fellowship and ultimately Board approval.
Article III.3, the agreement requires that the County (the Sponsor) will “ensure that the Fellow is covered by the Sponsor’s comprehensive/commercial form general liability insurance and professional legal liability insurance.”
Article IV.1 of the agreement, the County agrees that the County does not give the Fellow “any right to participate in a worker’s compensation plan.”
County Risk Management has requested that the Fellow be classified as a volunteer, per County Administrative Bulletin 421.1 III, and if this CCPD contract request is approved by the Board, it acknowledges that the County will provide general/professional legal liability insurance pursuant to this agreement, thus minimizing legal risk to the County. The CCPD will work in collaboration with the County’ Administrator’s Office to abide by the provision of Administrative Bulletin 421. Risk Management has also advised CCPD to inform the volunteer of their option to purchase extra medical insurance independently, which would provide coverage in case of their injury while performing their duties with the County.
The agreement outlines each party’s responsibilities and includes general liability language.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
If this agreement is not approved, the CCPD will not be able to execute the Larsen Justice Fellowship Agreement with University of California, Berkeley, School of Law, for Zoë Fisher.